Shaheen Shah Afridi has officially inked a deal with the Desert Vipers for the upcoming second season of the UAE’s ILT20. This marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first Pakistani cricketer to participate in this league, set to commence in January of the following year. The commitment comes in the form of a three-year contract.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Afridi stated, “I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE and I hope they will support our team in the upcoming ILT20.”
Afridi’s integration into the squad will follow his return from Australia after the New Year’s Test in Sydney, as the season’s start is slated for January 13.
Notably, in the previous year, the Vipers secured the signing of Azam Khan, potentially making him the pioneering Pakistani player in the ILT20. However, due to the PCB’s withholding of a no-objection certificate, his participation was ultimately thwarted.
Under the leadership of Zaka Ashraf, the current PCB chairman, the stance regarding players’ participation in diverse T20 leagues has undergone a shift. This relaxation stems from the players’ dissatisfaction with the restrictive terms imposed during the tenure of Ramiz Raja.
Highlighting Afridi’s prowess, Vipers’ cricket director, Tom Moody, shared his insights, “Shaheen is a player of world-class calibre who has had a significant impact not only for Pakistan but for every team he’s played for in recent times. He offers a huge amount as an impact pace bowler that has destroyed many, many top-orders and he also boasts terrific leadership skills that will add a huge amount of value to the Desert Vipers moving forward.”
Upon joining the team, Afridi will bolster an already potent bowling lineup, including Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Tom Curran, and Sheldon Cottrell, among others.
Having clinched the runners-up position in the inaugural season, the Vipers have held onto several key players. Captain Colin Munro and opener Alex Hales, the highest run-scorer of the previous tournament, are among the retained talents eager to take the league by storm once again.